For as long as I remember, I've loved having the ability of upgrading the CPU in my computer - back in the days of the original Pentium (and even before that), and the glory days of the Celeron 300A - the option was always there, but it could have its days numbered.

According to a report, starting with Intel's Broadwell generation of processors, Intel will only offer mainstream desktop CPUs in BGA packaging - killing upgrade options, and hurting PC makers. Starting with Broadwell, Intel's CPUs will depart the current land grid array (LGA) and micro pin grid array (µPGA) packages, and only offering chips in ball grid array (BGA) form factors, just like their Atom processors.

At least all those thumb-fingered CPU pin bender types won't have any more reason to send back all those motherboards - or maybe they'll find a new part to FUBAR - "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity"

OFN, repost...........and simply NOT TRUE. I can only tell you I heard that from the horse's mouth... or as close as I can get to it (and said that in the other thread).

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What, Intel isn't doing this? You sure?

There's several reporters at various websites who claim to have spoken to industry sources that say this is true. If Intel isn't doing this, then they could just release a PR refuting this, couldn't they?

BGA is already done in some of the laptop space already, so while I believe it will still be done there, my source states it will not happen across the board essentially.

I mean, this guy could easily be pulling our chain.. I didnt even reach out to him, he saw the thread at OCF and PM'd me that information. Problem is, I cant reveal the source as he asked not to be quoted and revealed.

“Intel remains committed to the growing desktop enthusiast and channel markets, and will continue to offer socketed parts in the LGA package for the foreseeable future for our customers and the Enthusiast DIY market,”

“Intel remains committed to the growing desktop enthusiast and channel markets, and will continue to offer socketed parts in the LGA package for the foreseeable future for our customers and the Enthusiast DIY market,”

Astoundingly close to what I said ehh?

I changed my sources wording but I have exactly that in a PM.

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You smug whatsit! I guess you've earned it though.

I remember when Intel did that presentation a few months ago on all the fantastic overclocking features in Haswell - much better than IB. It seems strange to spend good money developing that technology only to throw it all away for the next generation, doesn't it? That's why I always take stuff like this with a pinch of salt until we see an official response or a product announcement.

The more I look at it the more I see Intel would lose from doing this while AMD would gain greatly from this should it happen. While I'm not entirely convinced about this (other than they may do this for cheaper office PCs which are likely to get replaced opposed to being upgraded) I have noticed Intel going cheap on their latest Ivybridge CPUs with the non-soldering cooling for the metal plate on their CPUs which is why I will stick with my Sandybridge CPU until Haswell comes out where hopefully they will be an improvement to my current system (and where hopefully Intel won't do the same cheap thing with Ivybridge or anything else ridiculous).